Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

You may be wondering why I’m worrying about forgiveness today. Well, recent events remind me of this a lot. All the anger and hatred going around is only being fueled more. Often people wonder why you should forgive someone. Especially if they have wronged you in a way you feel inexcusable.

The question is often, “Why? Why should I forgive that person? He did this to me.” However, to forgive someone will free you of the burden of the anger and hate that sits and will fester, just like an untreated wound. If we hold on to that anger, it allows the enemy a foothold and will always hold you back.

Then there is the other side of the coin. I talked about doing a kindness to someone you would not normally do. Sometimes the kindness and love of forgiveness will open a door in the life of that person you forgave. Giving them the opportunity to heal and grow in ways we may not imagine. Truly forgiveness is loving your neighbor.

If we all practiced forgiveness more often, the enemy then loses that foothold called hate. They can no longer grasp that grudge and hold you down. To forgive, yes frees the one in need of forgiveness. But it also frees us of our burdens that we hold in our hearts.

Sometimes in life we take a look back at what we are going through and what has happened in the past. And, as long as we are not living in the past, this is a great time to reflect. Someone recently reminded me of a poem I’d like to share with everyone:

People come into your path for a reason, a season or a lifetime.
When you know which one it is, you will know what to do with that person.
When someone is in your life for a REASON it is usually to meet a need you have expressed.
They have come to assist you through a dificulty…
To provide you with guidance and support…
To aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually…
They may seem like they are a godsend, and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.
Then without any wrongdoing on your part, or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.
Sometimes they die…
Sometimes they walk away…
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand….
What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled…
Their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has now been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON.
Because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.
They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it, it is real. But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons.
Things you must build upon to have a solid emotional foundation.
Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person, and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.
It is said that love is blind, but friendship is clairvoyant.
Thank you for being a part of my life…
Whether you were a reason, a season or a lifetime

~ unknown author

God leads us in the direction we are meant to be lead. Sometimes we wander off the path. He tries to lead us back with the many different things. For myself, I have a motto, I wouldn’t be who I am today without what I was back then. I wouldn’t have what I have now, if I didn’t go through what I have gone through. With all that in mind…good or bad, thank you to all the people I’ve had in the past. Whether they were a reason, season, or a lifetime. And, a special thanks to the lifers. God knows you have your work cut out for you.

Blaze Bug, you are, as always, a wonderful inspiration.

Leave a comment below to share some of your experiences or even just to send a thanks to someone…reason, season, or lifetime.

I want to apologize and let everyone know that I have noticed on Facebook that there is a post that keeps going to my news feed. I am not reposting my same post that was the challenge post. I am looking into this problem, and will resolve it soon. I apologize for the inconvenience.

Lately the country is feeding off of all this violence, racism, and separation. During all the violence that is going on in the world, the worst thing we could do right now is divide.

Now is the time we need to remember the song that most of us learned when we were younger…

Jesus loves the little children

All the children of the world

Red and yellow, black and white

They are precious in his sight

Jesus loves the little children if the world

(Did you sing this when you read it? I did!)

Racism is taught. We are not born with this hatred. We spread it like a disease.

God created us all like snowflakes. All with a purpose, but none the same. We sparkle and shine in the light, and melt in the heat.

I challenge you to shine that light on someone you would normally just pass right by. Lift up your head and look. Pass that kindness on. Actively choose to do a kind act to someone at least one time a day.

Further more, for Facebook users. While we are posting about our days and opinions, share something uplifting. Share a story of love, compassion, empathy, and togetherness. You never know who you will touch, but I guarantee you will touch someone.

The news has sensationalized all the hate, let’s sensationalize compassion. Let’s spread the only cure to the disease called hate…Let’s spread love and kindness…compassion.

Have you ever sat down and started to read the Bible to your child. Starting in the new testament, you might realize, it can be a little traumatizing. Even for myself, I wince often reading some of the things that had happened back then. So, how do you share this with your children?

My very close friend, Inni Bug, started reading the new testament to her children. When she got to this part:

Matthew 32:16-18

Herod was furious when he learned that the astrologers had disobeyed him. Sending soldiers to Bethlehem, he order them to kill every baby boy two years old and under, both in the town and on the nearby farms, for the astrologers had told him the star first appeared to them two years before. This brutal action of Herod’s fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah, “Screams of anguish come from Ramah, Weeping unrestrained; Rachel weeping for her children, Uncomforted–For they are dead.”

How do you even begin to read that to a child, let alone explain all of that. It tugs at my heart-strings, as it did with Inni Bug. So, when she read this to her children, Ball Bug, (her son), “Mom, did he really kill a bunch of baby boys?”

Talk about being stumped. So, Inni Bug brings this up to me. Of course, we need to teach our children about the birth of Jesus, and the other history behind it. But, how do you begin to paraphrase this so it does not traumatize your child. Yes, there are books you can get, however, there is something to be said about a parent telling the story themselves.

So, homework for today…What are your thoughts on this. Have you had the same problem before? Are you having this problem now? Leave your comments and or concerns below. Let’s get this ball rolling!!!